Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Recently, I was talking to another friend who is Catholic. She told the story of an experience where she attended a Catholic funeral Mass. At the time of communion, the priest told the congregation that anyone “who was in a state of grace” was welcome to receive communion. My friend was taken aback by this comment wondering how many people may be turned away from receiving communion finding themselves unworthy. Today’s gospel dispels the idea that Jesus welcomes only those “good enough” to belong. All are welcome and Jesus particularly seeks out those most in need.
Today’s scripture reading tells the story of the call of Levi, the tax collector. Levi responds immediately to Jesus’ call to follow Him. Jesus shares dinner with Levi and many other “tax collectors and sinners.” The scribes and Pharisees question why Jesus would choose to mingle with those judged as being less in society because of their occupations or their actions. Jesus responds compassionately by explaining that He comes to bring healing and wholeness to sinners- not the righteous.
Jesus is the perfect Physician. He recognizes our weaknesses, our sins, and our fears, and He calls us to “follow Him” to find healing. We do not have to be “well” before we are loved by Jesus. We become restored to wholeness through the time we spend in His loving presence. Many times it is our own self-judgment of being unworthy and unlovable that prevents us from taking the steps towards Jesus’ healing touch. We need Jesus and His presence in our lives, since all life flows from Him.
The Eucharist is a very unique and significant encounter with Jesus. Pope Francis states, “To nourish ourselves from that “Bread of Life” means being in tune with the heart of Christ, to assimilate His choices, His thoughts, His behavior.” Prayer and scripture are other means by which we can come to know and follow Jesus. The priest from the funeral Mass mentioned earlier hopefully was not intending to turn people away from Jesus, but merely reminding each person of the great gift that is being offered in the Body and Blood of Christ. None of us is “worthy” of such a gift, but it is given freely in love by Christ.
The Eucharist- Jesus presence- is not something that should be restricted for those who are “holy.” Pope Francis explains it wisely: “The Eucharist is not a prize for the good, but strength for the weak; for sinners it is pardon; it is the viaticum that helps us move forward, to walk.” During His life, Jesus reached out and surrounded Himself with those in greatest need- the poor, the outcasts, the sick, and the sinners. We are all poor, sick, and sinful. Jesus welcomes us to be with Him, so we can allow Him to permeate our thoughts, words, and actions. Once we are filled with Christ, we are sent forth to be Christ to all the sick, suffering, and outcasts of our world. Our mission is not to judge, but to love others just as Jesus does.
Jesus welcomes and loves all people- as radical disciples of Christ- we are called to do the same.
Marylynn Herchline